What happens if he or Harris lose their lives?

Before the alleged attack on Trump, there was already discussion about what would happen if a US candidate lost his life. The vice president does not always take over.

Washington DC – Trump has been the target of a suspected assassination attempt for the second time. The first occurred in July, when he was shot at a campaign event. He escaped with an injury to his ear. The second incident, which the ex-president is now using for his election campaign, took place last week when he was at his golf club in Florida. Both times were more or less unscathed. But what would actually happen if that were not the case?

Life-threatening in case of assassination attempt: When Trump or Harris die, the vice president does not always follow

In the past, assassinations were planned on numerous US presidents. Some ended in death, as in the case of Abraham Lincoln, when he was shot in 1865. After his death, his vice president, Andrew Johnson, took over the office. The assassination attempt on President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, is particularly well-known. He was also followed by his vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson.

But both Trump and Harris are not currently in office and are still in the election campaign. Who would succeed them? The think tank Brookings Institution Provides the answer: If one of the two candidates dies or becomes incapacitated after the party convention and before the US election, then the national committee of the respective party meets to select a candidate. These committees are the national organizational bodies of the parties and are made up of representatives from all member states.

National Committee nominates new candidate for US election

If Trump dies, the committee could be loud New Zurich Newspaper (NZZ) will choose his running mate JD Vance, as well as previous candidates Ron DeSantis or Nikki Haley. For the Democrats, the choice could fall on people who were already under discussion before Kamala Harris replaced Joe Biden in the election campaign. These would be, for example, Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer or Josh Shapiro.

If a death occurs after election day and before the Electoral College meets, the situation is somewhat more complicated. In order to win the election and move into the White House, a candidate must receive a majority of the electoral college votes. This means that after the US election, the electors in their states will come together in the Electoral College to cast their votes for the president and vice president, explains the Guardian.